Pitch Raise, was: Standard Pitch

[Isaac sur Noos]

Hello Joe !

A recent comment about tuning , regulation , or whatever work done.

Pianos are havving some kind of inertia in regard to tuning,
regulation, and so on.

That mean that we try to obtain a new state of inertia when we
regulate, tune, change pitch, etc.

I have seen 1/2 step PR done in 2 hours and holding fine, but I now
always take another date to be back there and be sure I leave the
piano tuned stable for the next 4 years (at this moment the custome
call me back !)

The only way to have regular tuning appointments for me is to remind
them that the piano is waiting for me. I see numerous tuning I've done
a few years ago, that where almost at pitch (2-3 cts 3 or 4 yeas
later) and the piano begin just to be really "out of tune". (Numerous
is of course exagerated, but that is normal in the case of a good
instrument in good climate)

I regulmarely have professional pianist that I thought they where not
going to call me again, calling 3 or 4 year saying, "the piano just
went out of tune" .
Was really upset with that befor, but now I understand that it is my
work to follow them (will not give them a free PR nowadays)

On the other hand I fight to be tuning minimum 4 time/year in schools,
and have a fast check daily when in exams (same for concerts or
studio, tuning is dayly checked, sometime twice).

As you very truly saying, that is much more important to have speed in
our routine maintenance, bushing, pinning, hammer filing, because then
we can propose a real maintenance curse for acceptable budgets.

I own the first (little) music school in Paris that accepted  such
course, I can take a grand action for 1 day in the shop and bring it
back with a better pinning, middle of the keyboard rebush, hammers
renewed, dust gone, keys clean and level, on the next day. I then
count on 2-3 hours for regulation, and the instrument is well for the
next year, and more important, it does not degrade fast as if the
parts where having too much play.

For less played instruments, I have 1.5 hours /year for verticals, and
up to 3 hours for grands to give them minimal maintenance, and that
seem sufficient to avoid biggest problems of fast deterioration.

But I am yet to gain speed at dampers work !!!!

Do you use a router to shape ivorine ? What is the glue you like for
this (Yamaha for instance) I use the hot white glue , seems fine, but
the shaping of the top is a long job to me (mostly because I don't own
a good "tank" or belt sander I guess)

BTW I've seen on the WATANABE web site a setup & tool named "scraper
for key front" did not figure really how it works.

Any idea ?


Best regards.


Isaac OLEG

Entretien et réparation de pianos.

PianoTech
17 rue de Choisy
94400 VITRY sur SEINE
FRANCE
tel : 033 01 47 18 06 98
fax : 033 01 47 18 06 90
cell: 06 60 42 58 77

> -----Message d'origine-----
> De : pianotech-bounces@ptg.org
> [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]De la
> part de Joseph Garrett
> Envoyé : samedi 11 octobre 2003 03:08
> À : pianotech@ptg.org
> Objet : Re: Pitch Raise, was: Standard Pitch
>
>
> I've been reading all of this Bravado and some truthful
> times it takes to do
> quality tuning. To those who admit to over 1 1/2 hrs, I say
> fine. Y'all are
> not doing bad at all!
> I've been tuning for over 30 years. My average time for a
> first time client,
> is over 2 hours. Sometimes going as much as 6 hours, for
> one tuning. Of
> course, the ones that take over 2 hours are usually some
> weird critter like
> a square grand or an over-damper piano.
> Today, I returned, after 6 months, to a Gonzales, Square Grand, that
> initially was 45cents flat of 435cps. The initial visit
> took 5 hours. Of
> course, part of that 5 hours, was spent indocrinating the
> client about
> square grands and another part was aligning hammers,
> cleaning the interior,
> etc. Today, I found all but a few notes well within 2 cents
> of where I put
> it, 6 months ago! The extra time that I spent, initially,
> paid off TODAY.
> Within 2 1/2 hours, I tuned it, cleaned the Ivory keys,
> dusted/cleaned and
> installed a repaired damper lever, that I have had in the
> shop for, lo,
> these last 6 months. (It was A0 and had been muted off.<G>)
> It is my belief
> that "rushing" through a tuning is counter productive for long term
> stability. However, "dawdling" through a pitch raise/tuning is also
> counter-productive.
> What I'd really like to see/hear from a lot of you
> guys/gals, is how fast
> you can, efficiently and proficiently do a set of key
> bushings, a set of key
> tops, a resurfacing of hammers, a set of dampers, (install
> and regulate), or
> any of the many tasks we all do to make a piano better.
> FYI, I can do a set of key bushings, (out/in), in less than
> 2 hours; replace
> keytops, (Ivorine...NOT those damned "moulded"
> thingees!)..2 hours, Surface
> a set of hammers in less than an hour. Repin EVERY flange
> in a grand action
> in less than 10 hours. All of these things can be done
> efficiently, without
> being destructive to your physical well-being. Whereas,
> "slam/bang/thankyoumam tunings" are really hard on the
> body/mind, IMSO!
> Let's put our "speed" where it counts. Just a few thoughts
> on the subject of
> "Speed".<G>
> Best Regards,
> Joe Garrett, RPT, (Oregon)
> Captain, Tool Police
> Squares Are I
>
>
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